As we reported a few weeks ago in GTN Xtra, the horticultural unit at Pershore High School, on Station Road, Pershore in Worcestershire was broken into just as pupils started to return to the classroom after Lockdown 3 earlier this month.
Following the shout out for help through our pages, our great industry, even at such a busy time of year and so up against it with all the supply difficulties this season is bringing, have pulled out all the stops and helped get the horticultural unit up and running again in the last couple of weeks.
Within hours of GTN Xtra publishing news of the break in and the plea for help, Westland Horticultures’ Simon McArdle was on the telephone wanting details of the Kent & Stowe tools, Flopro watering equipment, Westland fertilisers, composts and other items needed. “Given how hard schools are working and the importance of seeking to inspire young people into gardening and hopefully even horticulture as a career we wanted to get the items the school needed into them quickly. We were pleased to get these delivered into the school a few days later” said Simon.
Also quick off the mark with support was Adrian Marskell the Managing Director at The Bransford Webbs Plant Company. Adrian told GTN Xtra: “A bit of support for a school where some of our staff have been educated with some cash and a few plants is the least we can do. We are always keen to encourage young people’s interest in horticulture so hearing of their set back of having their tools stolen, we wanted to react quickly and help them get back on track.”
The school is one of only a few mainstream schools in the country to have its own dedicated horticultural unit where students can experience some of the skills of horticulture and gardening. Six years ago the school achieved the status of “Approved Centre for Royal Horticultural Society Qualifications”. This means that students can gain a recognised horticultural grade through the RHS assessment process which helps them into employment or further education.
“Garden centre group Blue Diamond, with their centre at The Valley near Evesham, have also been a great support to us. We have got ourselves sorted so the students learning has not been held back too badly thanks to the speed of reaction from the garden centre industry. Blue Diamonds generosity will help us ongoing with seeds, bulbs, and other bits and pieces which will be a huge help to us with teaching our students” said Anne Watson, the teacher running the unit.
Neil Gow, now Internal Verifier for Horticulture and volunteer at the school said: “the support from our fantastic horticultural sector is perhaps not really a surprise. It is just one of the things I have loved about all the years in the industry that I have enjoyed – we always try and help each other out, but Thank You”
If you would like more information about the activities of Pershore High School and the educational opportunities it provides or to get in touch:
The Horticultural Unit, Pershore High School, Station Road, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 2BX
T: 01386 552471 W: http://www.pershore.worcs.sch.uk/ E: office@pershore.worcs.sch.uk